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SPORTS Monday 19 noveMber 2018

NASCAR title

Continued from Page 18 needs to do just what he
did today, beat all these
He was fourth on the restart guys and win fair and
with 15 laps remaining but square.”
powered his way along- NASCAR’s final weekend
side leader Truex, used a concluded with three new
power move in the out- champions from three dif-
side lane three laps later to ferent teams representing
take over the top spot and all three manufacturers.
he pulled away to win for Brett Moffitt won the Truck
Roger Penske. Series title in a Toyota for
“We were the favorite. We Hattori Racing, Tyler Red-
executed down the stretch dick won the Xfinity Series
like nobody’s business,” Lo- title in a Chevrolet for JR
gano said. “I knew we had Motorsports, and Ford final-
a short-run car. I said it be- ly got a title on what is of-
fore the race started that if ficially called “Ford Cham-
it was anything longer than pionship Weekend.”
25 laps we were going to Truex finished second in
be in trouble. That showed his final race with Furniture
all day. But it came down Row Racing. The team is
to the short run and we closing because it lost its Joey Logano (22) approaches the finish line to win a NASCAR Cup Series Championship auto
are champions. NASCAR primary sponsor midway race at the Homestead-Miami Speedway, Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018, in Homestead, Fla.
champions.” through Truex’s champion- Associated Press
Logano won the title in his ship reign. Hamlin not to take the first to stay in contention. he was the favorite, in part
10th season in NASCAR “It’s a tough way to lose,” pit stall and leave it open It was Busch who said los- because he wasn’t even
and with his second team. Truex said. “I had nothing so Busch would have an ing the title would be most supposed to make the final
He started with Joe Gibbs for him at the end. That’s easier exit back onto the disappointing if it went to four after just one regular
Racing as a teenager, was just the way it goes. I don’t track. But he lost six posi- Logano because Logano season victory. Busch and
pushed into the Cup Series know what else to say. It tions during one stop, four wasn’t in the same league Harvick ended the season
prematurely when Gibbs hurts a little, and I’m going in another, and his team as the Big Three all season. with eight wins each, while
needed a replacement to miss all of the guys.” had to gamble on strategy But Logano was adamant Truex had four.q
driver for Tony Stewart, and Harvick was third and
was snagged by Penske Busch fourth as the title
when Gibbs let Logano go contenders followed each Sebastien Ogier wins 6th straight World
after the 2012 season. other across the finish line.
“I think it’s great for them “We weren’t even close,” Rally Championship
and Joey,” Gibbs said. said Busch, who used strat-
“Great kid, great fam- egy to keep up with the COFFS HARBOUR, Austra-
ily. I’m sure he’s going to other title contenders. lia (AP) — Sebastien Ogier
make a great champion.” “We were so bad tonight won his sixth straight World
He is the second Cup on the racetrack and on Rally Championship after a
champion for Penske, the pit road that nothing was final day of racing at Rally
titan of motorsports who kind of going our way. So Australia ended the hopes
has had a banner year. it was just not all there the of his only two challengers
Penske also this season was way that we needed it for the season title.
elected into the NASCAR to, and sometimes it all The Frenchman started a
Hall of Fame, won the In- falls into place and falls wet Sunday needing to
dianapolis 500 for a record your way, and other times hold his spot ahead of Thier-
17th time and celebrated you’ve got to be able to ry Neuville, while overnight
Team Penske’s 500th vic- go out there and go earn rally leader Ott Tanak also
tory as an organization. it, and we didn’t have ei- remained with a chance of
Team Penske has also been ther.” moving ahead of Ogier.
the cornerstone for Ford In fact, Busch’s crew had Instead it was that pair In this photo provided by Rally Australia Sebastien Ogier, right,
the last six seasons and Lo- one of its worst races of which failed to finish, with and co-driver Julien Ingrassia celebrate their World Rally Car
gano gave the manufac- the year on pit road as the Neuville clipping a tree championship near Coffs Harbour, Australia, Sunday, Nov. 18,
turer its first Cup title since front tire changer had hic- with three stages remain- 2018.
2004. cups on several stops. It ing and Tanak running off Associated Press
“He sure delivered for us,” negated any advantage the road on the second- fashion, though, blitzing the his only forest stage victory
Penske said. “I don’t want Busch gained when team last stage. The 34-year-old seven-kilometer Wedding of the rally and five bonus
him to change at all. He owner Gibbs forced Denny Ogier sealed the title in Bells final stage to claim points.q